Tell us about your collaboration with Bobbi Brown.
"The amnesia rose is my signature rose, and grows at my chateau in the Loire Valley. When Bobbi came to London to work on my debut show in London, in Spring 2013, I sent her a big bunch of these roses after the show, and said I was already working on the next collection and we should consider creating a palette for it.
What defines a beautiful woman?
"It comes from the person — it is her soul. Confidence is something that really makes a woman beautiful. When someone feels confident, she shines. When I do my job as a designer, I focus on building confidence, so she feels fabulous in a dress and feels easy going out walking tall. I think that’s very much in line with the Bobbi Brown philosophy: She sees beauty in every woman and helps her bring out the best in her."
How has your beauty routine evolved over the years?
"I think when you are young and you don’t really need makeup, you wear too much: I couldn’t get enough of it in my teens. Then, in my twenties, I hardly wore it. I didn’t wear foundation until I was about 35. I like to have a simple, accessible makeup bag. I like a palette with a big mirror so I can apply makeup on the move. I developed the Amnesia Rose palette with Bobbi as a real example of the kind of capsule collection that I carry with me every day. We have put a Pot Rouge in there, as I love that multi-tasking product. The eye colors can be used for day wear; then add the purple for evening, so it’s easy to adapt as your schedule moves on."
How do you feel about the aging process and the pressure on women to stay looking youthful?
"As a teenager I cried a lot because kids were making fun of me because I was super tall and gawky. I remember complaining that my mother didn’t understand my plight, because she was 5'1", but I couldn’t see that everyone is different and has their own insecurities, however old they are.
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